Patna: Makar Sankranti was celebrated across Bihar on Tuesday with the traditional dahi-chura feast, but this year the festival was not limited to rituals and food alone. Politics was clearly visible alongside celebration, as several senior leaders hosted or attended feasts at their residences and party offices. The most talked-about event was the dahi-chura feast organised by RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav, which drew wide attention from political circles and the public alike.
Tej Pratap Yadav invited not only family members but also leaders from different political backgrounds to his residence. Among those who attended was Chetan Anand, son of former MP Anand Mohan. Speaking to the media, Chetan Anand referred to Tej Pratap as his elder brother and said that he came because he was personally invited. His presence sparked discussion, as such visits are often closely watched in Bihar’s fluid political environment, especially during festival gatherings.
At the same time, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar attended the dahi-chura feast hosted by minister Ratnesh Sada. Ratnesh Sada said that there had been some confusion regarding his party ticket earlier, but Nitish Kumar personally called him and resolved the matter. Meanwhile, senior BJP leaders gathered at the BJP office for their own dahi-chura celebration, showing unity within the party on the festival day. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan also organised a feast at his residence, where the chief minister, the governor and several NDA leaders were expected to attend. In contrast, there was no public celebration at the residence of Rabri Devi this time, which remained noticeably quiet.
In the days leading up to Makar Sankranti, Tej Pratap Yadav made several visits that added to the buzz. After nearly seven months, he reached Rabri Devi’s residence and personally invited his parents Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, his brother Tejashwi Yadav, and other family members to the feast. During the visit, he was also seen holding Tejashwi Yadav’s daughter Katyayani, a moment that drew attention. The feast included traditional items such as dahi-chura, tilkut and Lahori juice, keeping the celebration rooted in tradition.
Tej Pratap had earlier met his father at Misa Bharti’s residence in Delhi and invited her as well. He also attended the dahi-chura feast hosted by deputy chief minister Vijay Sinha a day earlier. When asked about political possibilities, both leaders responded cautiously, saying that things would become clear with time. As Bihar welcomed the harvest season, Makar Sankranti once again showed how festivals in the state often serve as platforms for social bonding as well as quiet political conversations.
